The Great Gatsby ~ Chapter 4

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Transcript of The Great Gatsby ~ Chapter 4

Plot Development• This chapter is very essential in the development of the novels plot because it is one of the first parts of the story that is dedicated to giving the reader a greater understanding of Gatsby's character. It adds suspense as well, because after reading this far into the book, we finally get to know the man who the book is based around.

• Nick lists all the people that have been attending them frequently and leaves us with the impression they are mostly just using Gatsby for the entertainment he has to offer.

• Later in the story, we see Gatsby lies about the way he got rich and his life before West Egg, which is why this chapter proves as important. We also learn about Gatsby's past through his business partner, Meyer Wolfsheim.

• At the end of chapter 4, we learn through Jordan that Daisy almost did not marry Tom because she still loved Gatsby and described the time they first met.

• “Then it had not been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night. He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor.” – Nick (4.79)-Nick realizes Gatsby wasn’t simply looking at the stars when he saw him on that night; he was looking longingly at Daisy’s house• “By the next autumn she was gay again, gay as ever. She had a debut after the Armistice, and in February she was presumably engaged to a man from New Orleans. In June she married Tom Buchanan of Chicago, with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville ever knew before. He came down with a hundred people in four private cars, and hired a whole floor of the Seelbach Hotel, and the day before the wedding he gave her a string of pearls valued at three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.” - Nick (4.76)- This shows how quickly Daisy moved on after Gatsby’s departure. She married Tom because he has a lot of wealth and is able to support her financially• "When I said you were a friend of Tom's, he started to abandon the whole idea. He doesn't know very much about Tom, though he says he's read a Chicago paper for years just on the chance of catching a glimpse of Daisy's name." – Jordan (4.80)-Shows how much Gatsby loves Daisy and the lengths he went through to locate her

The Great Gatsby ~ Chapter 4Symbols• In chapter 4 of the novel, a few different uses of symbolism can be seen, such as the green light, as well as Gatsby's medal. The green light shows that Gatsby is hopeful to be with Daisy and wants full attainment of the American dream by winning her over.

• The other symbol displayed is Gatsby's medal for fighting in the war, which he shows to Nick while they are on their way to meet Wolfsheim. His souvenirs from war represent a shred of truth within his false past, since Gatsby actually did win the medallion he shows to Nick.

• Gatsby needs to clear up the false perceptions of his life that have been spread through gossip, so he uses this object as solid proof when setting the record straight to his new friend.

CharactersThemesHonesty• Nick admires Gatsby even though he does suspect that he is involved with bootlegging and illegal dealings• The guidelines for honesty and morality appear to be based on class and gender Ex) Daisy wants Gatsby to be honest because it’s expected from people of high class, not because it’s morally right and Tom is not criticized for being unfaithful, however, he finds his wife’s affair unacceptable -Class• The societies of the East and West Egg are divided by the “old money” and “new money” familiesEx) In this chapter, Nick introduces Gatsby to Tom and Gatsby appears flustered and awkwardly leaves the scene. This foreshadows the rivalry between Nick and Gatsby (old money and new money)

Nick Carraway:

*Observant (notices the speech pattern of Gatsby)*Gullible (begins to believe Gatsby’s stories)* Allows biased judgments to not tell the story how it is

Jay Gatsby:

*Dishonest about self (lies about past life)*Mysterious (warns Meyer Nick is not the guy regarding the side business)* Very hopeful (wishes to be reunited with Daisy)

Jordan Baker:

*Caring (wants the best for Daisy)*Hopeful (for the lasting of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship)

• Fitzgerald uses specific details, metaphors and imagery in his writing to bring scenes to life • Foreshadowing is used when Gatsby meets Tom to show that there will be competition between the two • “I turned toward Mr. Gatsby, but he was no longer there.” (4.75)• Gatsby’s dialogue is filled with lies, irony and he mostly uses the phrase “old sport” to address people• “I’ll tell you God’s truth.” His right hand suddenly ordered divine retribution to stand by. “I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West—all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated there for many years. It is a family tradition.” (4.65)• “Old sport” is a phrase that was more used in the Jazz age and Gatsby uses it to appear educated